Uganda Gripped by Severe Drought, Threatening Widespread Hunger

A relentless dry spell across Uganda has devastated crops and is now putting millions of citizens at risk of severe hunger. The prolonged drought, particularly in the south-western and Karamoja regions, has caused widespread crop failure, leading to a sharp increase in food prices and significant uncertainty for the upcoming planting season.

Farmers report substantial losses, with staple crops like maize and sorghum failing to mature under the intense heat. Coffee farmers, while benefiting from ideal drying conditions for harvested beans, are now witnessing their coffee flowers wither before they can develop into cherries, jeopardizing future yields. Other farmers growing vegetables and fruits are struggling to keep their crops alive without irrigation, and those with systems face escalating fuel and water costs.

Experts and agricultural officials attribute the worsening situation to climate change, warning that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense. This reality is pushing communities heavily reliant on rain-fed agriculture deeper into poverty. In the Karamoja sub-region, an acute food crisis is unfolding, with reports of people surviving on minimal meals and tragic instances of hunger-related deaths among the elderly and children.

Local authorities have alerted the central government to the dire situation, and while some relief supplies have been delivered, the scale of the crisis suggests a long and challenging period ahead for affected communities. The drought is not only impacting current food availability but is also casting a long shadow over future agricultural productivity in the country.

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/severe-drought-leaves-many-at-risk-of-hunger-in-uganda—5548304